Which One......or is there another

[butki55]

I have been riding me MTB now since the beginning of the year. Its a ten year old MTB, and since I have been using it this year its now starting to feel the strain and now things are not going well with it, mainly the entire gears and every movable piece that helps them work. Anyway I went to me LBS and looked at bikes for starters. The only thing they had for me as a starter bike is a Merida 880-24.

http://www2.merida-bikes.com/en_INT/Bikes.Detail.238

They want 450 for it and will also chuck in some clipless pedals to.

What I want to know is, is this a good starter and good for the price or should I stretch to 500 pounds and get a boardman bike from Halfords. Again same question is it a good bike/worth it?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_241887_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

I have seen the Merida bike for 400 on the net but if something ever goes wrong with it then its time and money sending it back for repair etc. So buying it locally would be better in the long run.

Does / Has any on ever had one of the above bikes and rate them?

Many thanks.

 

[butki55]

Dont all rush at once.

 

[jayce]

i got that bike in my cycle plus mag they recon its well worth the money dont know how much it was though i can look and tell you wot they say ,that is the tripple crank one is it ,in the mag its a blue one they tested

 

[Wigsie]

I have recently bought a specialized Allez Elite, they are a little over your price range but the entry level is available around £500 either that or the 1.2 trek both great bikes and although the components may be a little lower spec the frames are great and you can upgrade over time.

Both these bikes you listed look like a good bet, but from my reasonably limited experience it is just as much about the bike shop you buy from than the bike, I visited about 5 LBS's and they were all head and shoulders above the support and advice that halfords (or the internet for that matter) had to offer. Then I found one that really stood out and stuck with them. A decent bike shop is really key, more often than not they are not the best salesmen but they are usually all bikers so have a passion above sending you home with the wrong bike.